U.S. Chamber Launches Transportation Coalition

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce launched a new, national coalition today to promote public investment in the nation's transportation infrastructure. The Chamber-led coalition – Americans for Transportation Mobility – will include lobbying, media and grassroots efforts to build support for improvements to the nation's overburdened transportation system.

"Too few roads, runways and an aging U.S. port system are costing the economy billions of dollars every year," said Thomas Donohue, Chamber President and CEO. "Airport delays and traffic jams cause more than frustration – they cause disruptions to the flow of goods and services in an economy that relies on just-in-time delivery."

Demand on our roads, ports, railroads and waterways can barely accommodate current traffic levels, much less the projected growth in demand. Only 19 new runways have been added at major airports over the past 25 years – despite an expected three-fold increase in passengers and cargo by 2015, according to federal statistics.

"Demand is not going to fall with a growing population and a growing economy," said Donohue. "Cars and trucks should be moving people and products, not idling in traffic adding pollution to the environment."

The new coalition's rapidly growing membership includes leading transportation associations, users, builders and state and local chambers. Americans for Transportation Mobility will fight to boost investment in transportation infrastructure and to streamline the approval process that currently delays and even prevents safety improvements and congestion relief.

"The future of transportation will work no better than the California energy system, unless we keep Congress on track," said Donohue. "We must ensure that the billions of dollars set aside for road, air and waterway programs are spent on those programs. Our economic prosperity, global competitiveness, national security and our way of life will be at risk if we do not make needed improvements to our transportation system."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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